The history

From a hospital in Jerusalem to World Heritage

The Crusades, the military orders, the castle-building years, the fall of Acre, Rhodes and Malta, and what happened to the castles later.

Jump to: The Crusades | The military orders | The building years | Acre, the capital | 1291 and after | Rhodes | Malta | Later centuries | Today | For teachers

The Crusades

The Crusades began with Pope Urban II’s call to take Jerusalem and the places in the East that were sacred to Christians. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline Thousands of knights and ordinary people across Europe answered the call. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

The Old Akko timeline dates the First Crusade to 1095 to 1099. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

For the next 180 years or so, the Crusaders tried to keep hold of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline The Crusades changed life in Europe too: its economy, trade, politics and society. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

ICOMOS says the Crusader period began at Acre in 1104, some five years after the fall of Jerusalem. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Old City of Acre (2001) Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, and the Genoese fleet besieged Acre by land and sea until it fell. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Old City of Acre (2001)

In 1187, at the Battle of Hattin, Saladin defeated the Crusaders and took Jerusalem and Acre. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

The Old Akko timeline dates the Third Crusade to 1189 to 1192. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline Richard the Lionheart retook the city in 1191, in the Third Crusade, after a siege of almost two years. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

Richard the Lionheart and Saladin were enemies, yet the Old Akko timeline says they became friendly: Saladin sent doctors when Richard was ill, and gave him his best horses. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline Richard even offered his sister in marriage to Saladin’s brother. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

The military orders

By 1080, monks led by Brother Gerard ran a hospital in Jerusalem for pilgrims who fell ill. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order The Church officially recognised the new order in 1113. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order

The Hospitallers cared for anyone, whatever their race or faith. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order After the Crusaders took Jerusalem, the Hospitallers also took on a military role, as the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order

The Temple Church says Hugh of Payns, a knight of Champagne, founded the Templars in 1118 to 1119. The Temple Church: The 12th Century, 1119 to 1187 Besides the monks’ vows, the Templars took a fourth vow: to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land. The Temple Church: The 12th Century, 1119 to 1187

Their headquarters in Jerusalem was the Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, which the Crusaders believed was the Temple of Solomon; that is where the name Templars comes from. The Temple Church: The 12th Century, 1119 to 1187

In the second half of the 12th century, Crusader lands were handed over to the Knights Hospitaller or the Templars, who then did the castle building. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)

In the 1140s the Priory in Clerkenwell, London, became the Order’s English headquarters. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order The Templars’ first London house, by the 1140s, was in Holborn, a mile north; it had a round church too. The Temple Church: The 12th Century, 1119 to 1187

The Temple Church gives two dates for the founding of the Templars: see when sources disagree.

The building years

In the early 11th century, the site was the Castle of the Kurds. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006) ICOMOS dates the first building phase to 1142 to 1190, the second to 1190 to 1200 and the third to 1200 to 1271. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)

The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem built Crac des Chevaliers between 1142 and 1271. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

Qal’at Salah El-Din has Byzantine beginnings in the 10th century, Frankish changes in the late 12th century, and Ayyubid fortifications from the late 12th to mid-13th century. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

The present Round Church was in use by 1163. The Temple Church: The 12th Century, 1119 to 1187 The Round Church was consecrated in 1185 by the patriarch of Jerusalem. The Temple Church: History

Henry II gave the manor of Strood to the Knights Templar in 1159. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor The hall was built about 70 years after the Templars got the estate, as lodging for important travellers between Dover and London. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor

The new chancel was consecrated on Ascension Day 1240, in the King’s presence. The Temple Church: To the End of the Templars, 1231 to 1312

By 1274 the stronghold, then called Castrum Maris, “castle-by-the-sea”, had two enclosures. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo

The Temple Church gives two dates for its Round Church: see when sources disagree.

Acre, the capital

UNESCO says Acre was the capital of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1104 to 1291. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Old City of Acre ICOMOS calls 1191 to 1291 Acre’s golden age, as capital of the second Crusader kingdom. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Old City of Acre (2001)

After the Third Crusade, Acre’s northern quarter grew and was surrounded by a double wall. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline Acre became the home of the patriarch and the headquarters of the military orders. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

Genoese, Venetian and Pisan merchants built their own quarters near the port. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Old City of Acre (2001) The Hospitallers settled in the north of the city and the Templars in the south-west. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Old City of Acre (2001)

UNESCO and ICOMOS describe Acre’s years as capital differently: see when sources disagree.

1291 and after

The Mamluks were a new power from Egypt. The Old Akko timeline dates the Mamluk period to 1260 to 1517. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline The Mamluks built up their rule in the region after stopping the Mongol invasion. Old Akko & Nazareth Development Company: Timeline

ICOMOS says the Mamluks held the castle from 1271 to 1300. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006) The Mamluks added further building in the late 13th century. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

ICOMOS says the Mamluks also built new structures such as “the massive square tower on the south side (Qalawun, in 1285)”. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)

ICOMOS says that in 1291 Acre was “systematically destroyed on the orders of Sultan El Ashraf”. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Old City of Acre (2001)

They came after losing their last stronghold in the Holy Land, Acre, in 1291. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Medieval City of Rhodes After 1291 the Order moved briefly to Cyprus, then in 1309 to Rhodes. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order

In 1307 King Philip of France first seized the Templars’ possessions. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor The Temple Church timeline gives 1307 to 1312 for the suppression of the Templars. The Temple Church: To the End of the Templars, 1231 to 1312

In 1324 the manor of Strood was formally handed to Edward II. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor

Two official Cyprus sources tell the story of Kolossi Castle after 1291 differently: see Kolossi and when sources disagree.

Rhodes

The Knights of St John held Rhodes from 1309 to 1523. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Medieval City of Rhodes

UNESCO says Rhodes became “a fortified city able to withstand sieges as terrible as those led by the Sultan of Egypt in 1444 and Mehmet II in 1480”. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Medieval City of Rhodes

Rhodes finally fell in 1522 after a six-month siege. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Medieval City of Rhodes The Museum of the Order of St John says: “The Order remained on Rhodes until 1522, when the Turkish Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, conquered the island.” Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order

After 1523, most churches in Rhodes became mosques. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Medieval City of Rhodes

Our sources end the Knights’ time on Rhodes in 1522 or 1523: see when sources disagree.

Malta

From Rhodes the Order moved to Malta, and stayed until 1798, when the island was surrendered to Napoleon. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order

After 1530, the Order of St John named the old castle Fort St Angelo and made it their headquarters. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo The Knights added artillery platforms, bringing the bastioned system of defence to Malta. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo

The Museum of the Order of St John says: “After a famous siege by Suleiman in 1565, which the Knights and the Maltese people survived, a new capital city, Valletta, was built.” Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order Fort St Angelo had a major role in the Great Siege of 1565. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo

Valletta was founded in 1566, soon after the Siege of Malta in 1565. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: City of Valletta The Knights of St John planned Valletta as one whole design, with a grid of streets inside bastioned walls. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: City of Valletta

In 1689 the engineer Carlos Grunenbergh added four gun platforms for some fifty guns. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo

The Order looked after the city for two and a half centuries. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: City of Valletta

Later centuries

When Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church, the Order in England was dissolved and its lands seized by the Crown. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order Later, as the offices of the Master of the Revels, the Clerkenwell buildings saw thirty of Shakespeare’s plays licensed. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order

Crac slowly lost its military role from the 14th century; the military base left in the 19th century and villagers lived there. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)

Queen Victoria granted the modern Order of St John in England a Royal Charter in 1888. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order The same eight-pointed cross is now the badge of St John Ambulance. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order

The main gate of the Ayyubid palace was restored in 1936, copying the original; that kind of restoration has since stopped. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

Some limited restoration was done during the French mandate, and the villagers’ more recent additions were removed. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din The medieval buildings were cleared of soil that had built up. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

The fort later became a Royal Navy shore base, named HMS St Angelo in 1933. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo In the Second World War, Fort St Angelo took 69 direct hits. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo

The last foreign forces marched out of the fort in March 1979. Heritage Malta: Fort St Angelo

The house fell derelict and was restored by the Ministry of Works after the Second World War. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor The outside stair was rebuilt in the 1950s. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor

Today

Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din were inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2006. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din UNESCO lists Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din on the List of World Heritage in Danger: “2013 - Present”. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

The Crusader city survives almost intact beneath the Ottoman city, and excavation has been revealing it. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Old City of Acre

ICOMOS notes that the castles were long linked mainly with the European invaders, but their national importance has more recently been recognised. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)

The Karak Archaeological Museum opened inside the castle in 1980. Jordan Tourism Board: Karak

For teachers: where this fits

At KS3, one non-statutory example for medieval Britain 1066 to 1509 is “Christendom, the importance of religion and the Crusades”. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study

The Crusades are not named in the Key Stage 2 history programme of study; the only mention is the non-statutory Key Stage 3 example. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study

At KS2, one of the non-European society options is early Islamic civilisation, including a study of Baghdad around AD 900. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study

The curriculum names concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study Pupils should understand how evidence is used to make claims, and why there are different accounts of the past. Department for Education: National curriculum in England, history programmes of study

Next: how they worked →